alan jones - time to come clean

"Alan Jones: Nature produces nearly all of the carbon dioxide in the air. Human beings produce point 001 percent of the carbon dioxide in the air...

- 2GB Sydney, The Alan Jones Breakfast Show, 15th March, 2011"

http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3169309.htm

On the basis that this is factually incorrect, this statement by Alan Jones on 2GB is in direct violation of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Commercial Radio Codes of Practice...

http://www.commercialradio.com.au/index.cfm?page_id=1170

Section 2.2 of this code says:

"2.2 In the preparation and presentation of current affairs programs, a licensee must use reasonable efforts to ensure that:

(a) factual material is reasonably supportable as being accurate;

and

(b) substantial errors of fact are corrected at the earliest possible opportunity.

A failure to comply with the requirement in Code 2.2(a) to broadcast factual material that is reasonably supportable as being accurate will not be taken to be a breach of the Code if a correction, which is adequate and appropriate in all the circumstances, is made within 30 business days of the licensee receiving a complaint or a complaint being referred to the ACMA (whichever is later)."

If you wish people like Alan Jones to be held accountable for their broadcasts and to present the facts in a balanced and unbiased manner, you can complain to 2GB directly using this link:

http://www.2gb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7051&Itemid=157

The process is as follows:

"Complaints process under the Codes

Code 5 of the Codes contains a complaints handling process. A listener who reasonably believes that a commercial radio program has breached the Codes is able to complain to the relevant station.

The complaint cannot be anonymous, must be in writing and must provide enough information to enable the station to investigate the complaint and provide a response.

The reference to "in writing" means a letter or fax. Also acceptable is the use of web complaints form downloaded from the station's website...

A station which receives a proper written complaint has a mandatory obligation to respond to that complainant within a set period of time. If the complainant is not satisfied with the station's response, he or she can refer the complaint to ACMA. Please do not send any complaints to Commercial Radio Australia as we have no role to play in the complaints process."

You will need to send it in the next few days - after 30 days from the date of broadcast, complaints become 'stale' and are not required to be actioned by the licensee.

I have complained already. I have not received a response from 2GB yet. In the absence of a response I will be referring my complaint to ACMA. Others who want to see fair and balanced reporting on stations like 2GB should seriously consider doing the same.